Education/Training

Graduated from Portage Collegiate institute in 2005. completed a 2 year diploma in Land and Water Management at Assiniboine Community College in 2007. Throughout employment with the city, has completed over two years worth of correspondence courses through Sacramento, Nait, and MWWA. Currently is a Certified Level 4 Water Treatment Operator. Jesse is also a certified arborist, heavy equipment operator, boat operator, chainsaw etc. currently holding a beginners class one drivers license.

History in the industry and as a WCW member

Acquired first job in grade three delivering fliers at one cent per flier, then upgrading to paper route. Began working for the family business, Kennedy Landscaping at 14, which included tree removal/ trimming, operating equipment, a lot of shovel/wheel barrel work, laying sod etc. commercial fishing on weekends and holiday in winters, and full time after graduating college. During high school, pumped gas and delivered furniture. Worked for LaSalle Redboine Conservation District for 1.5 years during and following college. Performed duties such as constructing grassed runways and berms/ drainage systems, surveying, planting trees, sealing abandoned wells, shock chlorinating wells, fencing off lakes and rivers, and installing pasture pipelines, built the roadside park at Cypress River which included and interpretive boardwalk through the marsh. Performed some contracted work reclaiming gold from tailings once a year for a few years up in the CON gold mine in Yellowknife. Began working with the city at the water plant in April 2009.

Typical day

Supervise and direct 5 operators and 2 meter maintenance/reader personnel. Consulting with management drinking water officer and maintenance, schedule maintenance, order chemicals and parts, filling out forms and purchase orders etc. handling complaints, overseeing operation water plant and distribution system pressures flow rates and set points, reviewing in house and contracted lab tests, aiding operators in daily duties lab tests, guiding tours, meeting with suppliers and contractors. Developing new, and editing safe work procedures, operational procedures, and emergency procedures. Currently training 3 new operators, while learning my new position as foreman.

Main challenges

Training 3 new operators while learning my new position at the same time can be difficult with the frequent distractions and issues pulling you every direction constantly. My multitasking capabilities have reached an all-time high. But as time passes this gets easier every day.

Industry Involvement

Provides tours to public, ran booth for MWWA at pci career day

Job Satisfaction

Providing clean safe water to the community and all the people I love in my life

Time away from work

Time away from work? Whats that? I am always at work. Avid fisherman year round, love to hunt and target shoot. In summer enjoys boating and beaches, camping, country side cruises. Fall is all hunting. Winter is sledding and fishing/ commercial fishing. Always tinkering away at something, doing renovations or landscaping, any kind of side jobs. Hopefully head up to Alaska this summer and try to out fish the grizzlies.